A message from Ted N.C. Wilson, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

In this time of pain and unrest across the United States, our hearts continue to go out in sympathy to all who have suffered, and especially to the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, whose lives ended tragically.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we stand together worldwide in condemning racism, bigotry, hatred, prejudice, and violence in all of its myriad forms. We know that God is a God of justice, who sees and knows all, and we look to Him to fulfill His Word when He says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay” (Romans 12:19).

Ontario Conference Response to Racially Influenced Deaths in the United States

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, We at Ontario Conference cannot remain silent in the face of such injustices as the recent, senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbury and Breonna Taylor in the United States. In a time of crisis, the May 25 death of George Floyd was the latest example of a man’s inhumanity to a fellowman, resulting in a strong emotional response worldwide, including Ontario. In the aftermath of these devastating losses, we grieve with the Floyd, Arbury and Taylor families. We grieve with people around the world. We grieve with you.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is responding to the tragic killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is responding to the tragic killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, George Floyd in Minnesota, and other recent events that clearly document the racial divide destroying the quality of life for so many and the very fabric of our democratic society. As Christians we condemn such actions of hate and violence and call for justice to be served for the victims and their families.

If we look for them, we can find opportunities in even the most uncertain situations. For Ontario Conference churches during COVID-19, one such opportunity is the resurgence of small group ministries. Small groups can foster a stronger bond between church members sheltering in place and build a bridge to the post-pandemic church, which may feature smaller gatherings. More than just another program, they may provide members with a greater sense of Christian community than the corporate worship service.

One pastor who has long embraced small groups, which he calls LifeGroups, is Ardison Bernardo, pastor of Mississauga Filipino & Faith Filipino Churches since January 2018. After a few weeks of adjustment, on the 28th, the churches had their first combined Zoom meeting and have been successfully functioning as one unit, including their small group ministry. At Pastor Bernardo's churches, LifeGroup members are "members who are Living in Faith Everyday (L.I.F.E.) from witnessing into baptism to spiritual maturity into becoming a devoted and committed disciple-maker like Jesus."

Daniel R. Jackson and his wife, Donna, have served at the NAD headquarters since his election in June 2010 at the GC Session in Atlanta, Georgia

Daniel R. Jackson, president of the North American Division of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (NAD), and his wife Donna, have announced their intent to retire, effective July 1, 2020. With the postponement of the 2020 General Conference (GC) Session, NAD administration has worked with GC leadership to establish a clear process for the election of the new NAD president in July 2020.

Luso-Brazilian Church event attracts thousands of viewers from Canada, the US, Portugal and Brazil

For Pathfinders, winter camping is often a highlight of the year, a time to bond with peers and experience God in nature. The Luso-Brazilian Church's Alliance Pathfinder Club had been looking forward to their winter camp for months, but the Coronavirus changed everything. A few weeks into quarantine, Alliance director, Silney Rocumback, conducted a Zoom prayer meeting with her Pathfinders, and their frustration was palpable. "I could see how different their faces were from the children and teenagers I was used to seeing during normal activities before COVID-19. I [knew] I had to do something," she said.

For students at any of our nine Adventist schools, a typical day since late March might look like this—
• Receiving instruction by grade or class from a teacher via Zoom
• Completing assignments posted in Google classroom under the watchful eye of mom or dad
• Mastering (or trying to master) new technologies and different educational software

It’s a far cry from pre-March Break days of learning on-site with teachers and peers, enjoying recess and other social activities. Across the globe, traditional schooling has been disrupted, with “Corona-schooling” becoming the new normal.